Log Homes Archives - Page 2 of 2

Moonstone Timber Frame: Full-Round Log Cabins Made of Eastern White Pine

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

Originating in Northern Europe, one of the oldest and most rustic form of log homes is known as round log ‘full scribe,’ a chinkless method of construction that uses wool or other soft materials to insulate between logs that fit together like puzzle pieces. The techniques used to build these homes are thousands of years old, but combining this ancient craftsmanship with modern cutting and shaping tools enables faster and more economical construction.

Some builders, however, still hand-craft the logs, cutting them with chainsaws but hand-scribing them and finishing them with hand tools. These logs are naturally-shaped and smoothly-peeled before being custom-fitted to one another. Saddle-notch corners help retain a tight fit between the logs as the home settles after construction.

Many log cabin builders offer round log full scribe construction as an option, and the wood of choice for these structures is nearly always Eastern White Pine. That’s because it’s renewable, sustainable, and remarkably easy to work with.

The end result is a home durable enough to stand for centuries, brimming with handcrafted charm. The structures pictured here were built by Moonstone Timber Frame, an Ontario company building custom timber frame log homes and cottages.

Mountain Style: Rustic Vacation Home Made of Eastern White Pine

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

When you think of a contemporary mountain log cabin, this is probably what comes to mind: large, rustic rough-hewn logs in amber tones, paired with stone masonry and a dark green roof. Mountain Construction Enterprises built this getaway in the Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina using massive Eastern White Pine timbers.

The logs for this home weighed a total of 760,000 pounds, requiring 19 tractor-trailer loads to bring it all in. There’s no doubt that Eastern White Pine is the focal point, making up the frame, the ceiling, the staircase, the deck railings and nearly all of the walls.

The diameter of these logs ranges from 12 to a whopping 28 inches, with particularly notable examples visible in the ceiling of the kitchen. The gleaming finish comes thanks to an environmentally friendly coating. All of the logs are hand-scribed with a modified saddle notch, with no chinking in the walls.

The highest quality craftsmanship is evident in every corner, paying homage to mountain traditions and the solidity of historic wooden architecture.

New Eastern White Pine Log Home Brims with Historic Charm

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

This log home complete with a rusted corrugated metal roof looks like a historic pioneer cabin, but get a little closer and you’ll see some contemporary details, like brickwork on the foundation and chimney. Created by Hearthstone Log Homes and built by Champion Construction, this new Western North Carolina home was made using rustic beams of Eastern White Pine.

The home was intentionally built in two slightly different volumes – the main rustic log structure, and a secondary volume covered in board-and-batten siding. This was done to make it look as if a historic log cabin had been added to over the years, giving it a sense of authenticity.

Inside, hand-hewn wood textures are virtually everywhere you look, from the exposed timbers and log walls to the paneled ceiling and pine plank floors. The wood was stained in seven different shades to add a sense of depth.

Far from a period recreation, the home has all the comforts of modern life, including contemporary appliances and beautiful design details like doors reclaimed from a monastery. See more cabins by this Tennessee-based company at HearthstoneHomes.com.

Cabin Kits: An Affordable Option for Log Cabin Living

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

Whether it’s a hunting shelter, vacation getaway or a full-time residence, a log cabin is a beautiful option for rustic lodging. Pre-cut log cabin kits make it fairly easy and affordable to build your own. Often made of Eastern White Pine, these kits include coded or tagged logs, screws, insulation, floor joists, windows, decking and virtually everything else you need to construct a cabin ranging from the most simple shed-sized structures to larger, multi-story homes.

Modular cabin kits allow aspiring cabin owners with a D-I-Y spirit to play a role in every step of building their own structure, from the ground up, while sticking to a budget and following expert instructions. Generally, you just need some basic tools like a ladder, power drill, circular saw, hammer and caulking gun.

Log cabins made from kits are different from handcrafted log homes, in that the latter are produced from whole logs by artisans who hand-peel and notch the logs individually. Because handcrafted log homes are made one at a time, using traditional techniques, they have a different feel from cabins produced using logs milled to be uniform in shape so they fit together like puzzle pieces.

There are many log cabin companies offering kits that they will ship anywhere within the continental United States, but you can also find a provider in your area. Once you choose the model you prefer, you can often make small changes to the design to customize it to your preferences.

Photos: Merrimac Log Homes

Mountain Log Homes Show Off the Natural Beauty of Eastern White Pine

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

The natural beauty of Eastern White Pine lumber is put on spectacular display in beautiful cabins by Grandfather Mountain Log Homes in North Carolina. In addition to authentic log cabins made of reclaimed wood, the company builds traditional-style log cabins in a variety of designs ranging from rustic, single-story structures in the style of Appalachian pioneer cabins to larger, more contemporary homes.

Each of the lofted cabins features exposed beams that create both the first floor ceiling and the second story floor. Exposed beams are also used to create cathedral ceilings that open up the space and make it feel airy and cozy at the same time. Each log cabin includes a “heavy timber” porch system including exposed rafter beams.

“Grandfather Mountain Log Home Packages contain solid Eastern White Pine logs that are inspected to the highest standards in in the industry today,” the company states. The photo gallery of cabin interiors demonstrates how the warmth and charm of this material can transform a space, whether in a country kitchen or a grand living room with a vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace.

Eastern White Pine is a popular choice for timber frame buildings, which are experiencing a boom in popularity, because of its affordability, reliability and aesthetic value.

The Best Tree for the Job: Eastern White Pine Log Homes

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

“We do not mill Eastern White Pine because it is the species closet to our mills;” says log home builder Moose Log Homes, “instead, we moved our mills to be closer to this magnificent tree and its abundant supplies in the U.S. East.” This company is among many that choose Eastern White Pine not only for its striking beauty and affordability, but its stability. This tree is listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wood Products Laboratory as having the least amount of radial shrinkage of any species of wood used as an engineering material.

Eastern White Pine performs extraordinarily well when compared to other pine species like Southern Yellow Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine and Western White Pine. Low shrinkage rates mean log homes made of Eastern White Pine will be stronger and more durable.

Log homes have been built in North America since the first British settlers arrived in what would become New England nearly 500 years ago. The earliest stacked log structures were very rustic, made using the simplest of techniques, so inevitably, there were gaps between the logs. Development of the ‘military dovetail corner’ in the 18th century provided the interlocking log pattern that we recognize in log homes today, making these structures much more comfortable and stable.

Modern log homes can be built with logs in a variety of shapes and sizes including round logs, D-shaped logs, dovetail and tongue-and-groove. These logs can reach up to 14 inches in diameter and an incredible 50 feet in length, creating dramatic looks that show off the natural beauty of wood like no other building material and construction technique.